SON arrests importers of fake auto parts

Determined to deliver on its mandate to rid Nigerian markets of fake and sub-standard products, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has seized sub-standard auto spare-parts worth N20 million from Mundus Auto Limited at the popular Auto Parts and Mechanics Dealers Association (ASPAMDA) market at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex along Mile 12-Badagry Expressway. The importer was also arrested.

Also confiscated were cartons of adulterated locally-made tooth brushes, allegedly imported from China.

The raid, according to SON, was part of its on-going ‘Operation Flush’ campaign aimed at eliminating sub-standard products from circulating in the country.

Briefing reporters after the exercise, leader of the Monitoring and Enforcement team, Assistant Director, Inspectorate and Compliance Department of the agency, Mr. Fred Akingbesote, expressed disgust at the rate importers throw caution to the wind in their bid to maximise profit. He disclosed that a similar raid, which took place earlier in the year, involved the same culprit whose shop was amongst those locked up for the same offence.

“If you recall that this type of exercise was carried out precisely on April 8. The same culprit refused to understand what we are saying. They continued in their nefarious activities by faking the product. This is an engine component spare part in a heavy-duty vehicle originally a product of Poland with a minimum life-span of two years, but this fake one from China can only last for about two months.

“Everything about the rotor looks exactly like the original. It takes an eagle-eye of a technically competent person to identify, but this person continues to bring it in from China, while the original is made in Poland,” he said.

Unperturbed by SON’s action in locking the shops, the importer, who had been on the run since the incident, together with members of his cartel obtained a court injunction against the agency and went ahead with normal business, not minding the fact that a day of reckoning always comes.

The SON top official said: “When these shops were locked in April they went to court and got an injunction which I’m not aware of; that notwithstanding, the pedestal at which SON works now is a different platform entirely because of our amended Act. In time past, we needed to obtain court order, but now Section 30; sub-section 4 gives us the same right, privilege and authority like any law enforcement agency, especially the Police. Now, we can arrest, prosecute and detain as the case may be. So, running around obtaining court injunctions based on the old Act is just a waste of time.”

The former SON Act empowers the Standards Council to design, establish and approve standards in respect of metrology, materials, commodities, structures, and processes for the certification of products in commerce and industry throughout Nigeria and to carry out any other function imposed on it under the former Act. It also empowers the Director-General to enforce standards, quality control of products, science of measurement, and all matters relating to metrology; investigate quality of products, etc, seize, seal, destroy or prohibit the sale of sub-standard products; power to enter any premises, building etc. where commercial activity is taking place to perform her functions, amongst others.

Following the unprecedented passing of the SON amended Act by the immediate seventh National Assembly, it has now acquired new powers not only to arrest, prosecute and jail purveyors of fake and sub-standard products across the country, but prevent importers of such products into the country from having the usual mentality of ‘business as usual’. With this upgraded status, the war against fake and sub-standard products would gain new impetus and bite.

Akingbesote stressed that the high rate of accidents on our roads is caused by the use of counterfeit imported auto spare parts by motorists, while decrying the unpatriotic attitude of some unscrupulous businessmen, who would stop at nothing to amass wealth at the detriment of others.

“These are fake metals, but look like the original. It has to be subjected to fatigue and mechanical tests to further check for the component and the characteristics of the metal. These are just fake; they look shiny, polished, but there’s actually nothing in them. Something that is for duration of two years minimum, you use it for a couple of months and it’s all over.”

“This is why we have high rate of damage on trucks on the road and accidents. It’s an engine component and anything can happen,” he said.

He expressed joy at the milestone reached with the ‘operation flush’ campaign and promised that the agency would stop at nothing to ensure that sub-standard products are removed from Nigeria’s markets, while warning dubious importers to desist from proliferating fake products because the long arm of SON would definitely catch up with them.